Spout for dispensing fluids from pressurized containers

ABSTRACT

Spout for dispensing fluids from pressurized containers comprises baffle disc which slows ejection of fluid and rim which, when applied to surface to be sprayed, limits the area of application.

United States Patent 11 1 Morane 11 July 10, 1973 154] SPOUT FOR DISPENSING FLUIDS FROM 3,373,580 3 /1968 Federighi ZZZ/402.13 X PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS 3,217,938 11/1965 Ayers... 1 239/343 X 2,913,749 11/1959 Ayers ZZZ/402.12 X [75] inventor: Bruno P. Morane, Paris, France [73] Assignee: LOreal, Paris, France Primary Examiner-Samuel F.Coleman [22,] Flledz, 1 Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky 21] A L 121,94 Att0rneyH01combe, Wetherill & Brisebois [52] US. Cl ZZZ/402.12, 118/3, 128/173,

239/343, 239/524 1 511 1111. c1 865d 83/14 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 222/182, 187, 394,

222/396, 398, 402.1, 402.12, 402.13, 402.15; Spout for dispensing fluids from pressurized containers 128/173, 225; 118/3; 239/343, 350, 498, 524 comprises baffle disc whichslows ejection f fluid and I rim which, when applied to surface to be sprayed, limits [56] References Cited the area of application.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,431,749 3/ I969 Bounds 222/402.l3 X 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OFTI-IE INVENTION When fluid products areto be applied to the hair it is particularly convenient to package these products in pressurized containers. The user then sprays the product on her hair by pressing a button which controls the outlet valve of the container. However, the spouts heretofore used with such containers are not entirely satisfactory because the fluid product is ejected at too great a speed, so that, if the spout is not very accuratelydirected by the user, the product is sprayed over areas outside the zone of the hair. If, in order to decrease the risk of an improperly directed jet of liquid, the user presses the spout too close to the head, the hair becomes plastered to the scalp, and the products to be dispensed are distributed over the surface formed by the matted hairs beneath the spout, without reaching. the roots of the hair. However, in general, the products which are to be applied to the hair must reach the zone of the roots. This is particularly true when the products to be applied are hair dyes. i

It is the object of the present invention to provide a dispensing spout which makes it possible to apply a rather thick fluid product to the hair in such a way as to reach the roots of the hair without any risk of spraying it onto areas beyond the edges of the hair which are not to be treated.

The present invention accordingly relates to the new article of manufacture which consists of a dispensing spout adapted to be used in combination with apressurized container of the aerosol bomb type. This spout is essentially characterized by the fact that it comprises: l a cylindrical casing which is slideably adjustable on the part of the pressurized container which carries the dispensing valve; (2) a dispensing tube cooperating with the outlet tube of the dispensing valve; (3) a trans verse wall connecting the dispensing tube to the cylin-.

drical wall of the casing; (4) a baffle plate which occupies a substantially fixed position with respect to the transverse wall, which plate is positioned facing the orifice in the transverse plate which leads to the dispensing tube; and (5) a flange projecting inwardly from the end of the cylindrical casing wall remote from that at which the casing meets the pressurized container, said flange, being positioned axially beyond the baffle plate so as to define between itself and said plate an open space in communication with the ambient atmosphere.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the casing of the spout consists of a cylindrical wall which is slideably seated on the edge formed by the crimped joint which connects the top of the container to the lateral wall thereof. The dispensing tube is cylindrical and comprises at its lower end a seat which permits it to be mounted on the upper end of the outlet tube of the dispensing valve of the pressurized container. This dispensing tube is positioned substantially axially of the cylindrical casing.

In a first form of the spout according to the invention the transverse wall is substantially flat and perpendicular to the axis of the lateral casing, and one end of the cylindrical-casing vwall carries an inwardly bent flange parallel to the transverse wall, a flat disc being inserted between the flange and the transverse wall, which disc has a diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the cylindrical casing wall and is moved on its two faces in a substantially radial manner.

In this form it is preferred that the segment of the easing which encircles the baffle plate have a relatively substantial length so that there is, between the baffle plate and the outside, an open cylindrical space laterally defined by that casing segment. It has been found that, when the user opens the dispensing valve of apressurized container which has been equipped with the spout according to the invention, the product dispensed arrives at the baffle plate through the dispensing tube and is divided among the radial grooves of the disc as it flows toward the edge thereof. Since the baffle plate has a diameter less than the inner diameter of the cylindrical casing, the product may pass around the disc and then reaches the surface of the disc which is turned toward the outside. The flow then travels beneath the flange of the casing through the grooves in the disc in the direction of the center of the disc. All the fluid streams converge at the center of the disc and combine to produce a jet of the product substantially along the axis of the spout, the speed of ejection being relatively slow, on the one hand, because of the greater resistance which has been interposed to the flow of fluid by the baffle plate and, on the other hand, because of the fact that the distribution takes place substantially over the entire inner surface of the spout and not only through the section of the dispensing tube.

The user applies such a spout to the hair where the product to be dispensed is to be placed, with the pressure of application serving to open the dispensing valve by depressing the outlet tube. Whenthe product is ejected to the outside as has been described, it comes in contact with the hair, which is gripped between the scalp and the edge of the casing, but is not subjected to any pressure in the area inside the edge of the casing.

It follows that the product distributed may, in this zone,

penetrate to the roots of the hair. It will thus be seen that we avoid both the risk of poor application of the the product dispensed escapes from the dispensing passageway by striking the baffle plate and expanding radially from the center to the periphery over the entire surface of the bowl which constitutes the transverse wall. The product is thus delivered at an axial speed which is clearly diminished, as has been explained in connection with the first embodiment. When the user applies the spout according to the invention to her hair, she thereby depresses the outlet tube of the dispensing valve and the product to be dispensed enters the bow] at the upper end of the spout, in alignment with the hair which has not been compressed, since only the lateral edge of the bowl engages the hair. As before, it will be seen that this spout makes it possible to apply the prod plate inside the dispensing tube. The lower face of the nail head is provided with radial flanges insuring a predetermined spacing between the transverse wall and the head of the nail.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, as a new article of manufacture, a pressurized dispensing container of the aerosol bomb type which is particularly adapted to apply hair dyes, and is essentially characterized by the fact that the central dispensing tube of a spout such as has just been described is mounted on the outlet tube of its valve.

In order that the inventionmay be better understood, two embodiments thereof will now be described, purely by way of illustration and example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a pressurized container provided with a dispensing spout according to the invention mounted to dispense a product onto living hair;

FIG. 2 is a detail view showing in axial section the spout carried by the container of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a'top plan view taken from the top of FIG. 2 at the position indicated by the line III-III; and

FIG. 4 shows in axial section a second embodiment of the spout according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, it willbe seen that reference numeral 1 indicates a pressurized container of the aerosol bomb type, which holds the product to be dispensed. The container 1 may hold, for example, an oxidation dye for the hair, together with an oxidizing agent, stored separately in two distinct compartments, and dispensed simultaneously by the dispensing valve 2. The valve 2 is fixed to a cap 3 which is connected to the lateral wall of the container 1 by a crimped joint 4. The valve 2 carries an outlet tube 5. A cylindrical casing 6 is seated on the crimped joint 4 and is provided with a transverse wall 7 perpendicular to its axis. In the center of the wall 7 is a dispensing passageway 8, the lower part 8a of which is enlarged so as to fit onto the outlet tube 5. The dispensing tube 8 leads to an orifice 9 in the transverse wall 7. Above the transverse wall 7, the casing 6 terminates in a flange 10 formed by bending the cylindrical wall in parallel to the transverse wall 7. The flange 10 has a thickness slightly greater than that of the cylindrical wall of the casing 6. Between the flange 10 and the transverse wall 7 is a baffle 11 which comprises, on its two surfaces, radial grooves 12. The baffle 11 has an outer diameter of about 2 mm less than the inner diameter of the casing 6. When the user presses the flange 10 of the spout against her hair 13 it will be seen that because of the space defined between the flange 10 and the baffle 11, the hair in the zone 13a is not compressed. When the user presses on the container 1 she depresses the tube 5 and opens the valve 2. The product to be dispensed is ejected through the orifice 9, and the grooves 12 on the lower face of the baffle plate 11, through the annular space between the baffle plate 11 and the cylindrical casing 6, and through the grooves 12 in the upper surface of the baffle plate 11. The product is thus forced into the zone 13a of the hair. The fact that the flange has been pressed against the hair in order to insure ejection of the product avoids any undesirable spraying outside the zone of the hair to be treated. Moreover, the product may penetrate to the roots of the hair, which is certainly an advantage, particularly in the case of hair dyes.

Referring now to FIG. 4, which describes the second embodiment of the invention, it will be seen that reference numeral 21 indicates the upper part of a pressurized container and reference numeral 24 identifies the crimped joint by means of which a cap 23 is connected to the container 21. The cap 23 carries a central dispensing valve 22. The outlet tube 25 of the valve 22 engages the enlarged lower part 28a of the dispensing tube 28 of the spout. This spout has a cylindrical casing 26, the lower part of which slides onto the crimped joint 24. The upper edge 30 of casing 26 forms the lateral edge of a bowl defined by a concave transverse wall 27. The dispensing tube 28 opens to the ambient air through an orifice 29 into which is inserted a pin having a head 31a, and a rod part 31b. The end of the rod part 31b is divided into two parts which can be spread so as to hold the pin 3la-3 lb inside the dispensing tube 28. The spacing between the lower surface of the head 31a of the pin and the upper surface of the bowl-shaped transverse wall 2 7 is maintained by radial ridges 32 on the lower surface of the head 31a of the pm.

When the user applies such a spout to the hair, she depresses the outlet tube 25 by sliding the spout on the container 21 and thus opens the valve 22. The product escapes from the container 21 through the tube 28, the orifice 29 and the radial grooves defined between the ridges 32. The product then expands over the entire surface of the bowl formed by the transverse wall 27. Since the spout is applied to the hair only at the edge 30, the hair in alignment with the bowl 27 is not pressed against the scalp, and the product which is delivered may be distributed on this hair to the roots thereof. The axial speed of the product is relatively slow because of the loss of pressure during the passage of the fluid through the tube and over the substantial surface of the bowl. Finally, any application to areas beyond the area to be treated is avoided because dispensing takes place only when the spout is applied against the hair.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments hereinbefore described have been given purely by way of example, and may be modified as to detail without thereby departing from the basic principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing spout for use in combination with a pressurized container of the aerosol type, which container is provided with a dispensing valve in one end thereof, said spout comprising an integrally formed cylindrical casing and a substantially flat transverse wall near one end of the casing and substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, with the other end of said casing adapted to be slidingly mounted on said one end of said pressurized container, a dispensing tube, said dispensing tube depending from said transverse wall inwardly of said casing for engagement with said dispensing valve, a baffle in the form of a flat disc having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the casing and mounted in said casing between said one end thereof and said transverse wall, said baffle having radial slots formed on the under surface thereof for directing a pressurized liquid radially outward from said dispensing tube, said casing having at said one end a rim defining an area for limiting the outward radial travel of said liquid when said valve is opened by forcing said dispensing tube against said dispensing valve, which rim carries a flange which turns inwardly to retain said baffle between said flange and transverse wall, and said baffle being radially grooved on both faces.

2. Spout as claimed in claim 1 in which the rim of the casing which holds said disc has a substantially greater thickness than that of the cylindrical wall of the container.

3. A dispensing spout for use in combination with a pressurized container of the aerosol type which container is provided with a dispensing valve in one end thereof, said spout comprising an integrally formed casing and a transverse wall at one end of said casing with the other end of said casing adapted to be slidingly mounted on said one end of said pressurized container, a dispensing tube, said dispensing tube depending from said transverse wall inwardly of said casing for engagement with said dispensing valve, a rigid baffle mounted above said transverse wall, said baffle having radial slots formed on the under surface and extending to the periphery thereof to define with said transverse wall a plurality of permanently open ducts for directing a pressurized liquid radially outwardly from said dispensing tube, said casing defining an area for limiting the outward radial travel of said liquid beyond said ducts when said valve is opened by forcing said dispensing tube onto said dispensing valve.

4. Spout as claimed in claim 3 in which the casing consists of a cylindrical wallwhich fits slideably over a crimped joint connecting the cap carrying the valve to the lateral wall of the pressurized container,

5. Spout as claimed in claim 3 in which the dispensing tube is cylindrical and comprises at its lower end a seat permitting it to engage the top of the outlet tube of the dispensing valve of the pressurized container, said tube being positioned substantially axially of the lateral casing.

6. In combination a spout as claimed in claim 3 and a valved dispenser of the aerosol type, with said spout mounted on the valve of said dispenser.

7. Spout as claimed in claim 3 in which the baffle has a diameter slightly greater than that of the passage in the dispensing tube and comprises a mounting pin retained by the wall of the dispensing tube, the transverse wall having the shape of a bowl and extending from one end of the dispensing tube to the lateral edge of the casing, which edge constitutes the connection between said transverse wall and the cylindrical casing wall.

8. Spout as claimed in claim 7 in which the baffle is formed by a pin-shaped member, the end of which is divided into at least two separable parts, the lower surface of the head of the pin-shaped member being provided with radial ridges spacing the transverse wall from the remainder of the head of the nail. 

1. A dispensing spout for use in combination with a pressurized container of the aerosol type, which container is provided with a dispensing valve in one end thereof, said spout comprising an integrally formed cylindrical casing and a substantially flat transverse wall near one end of the casing and substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, with the other end of said casing adapted to be slidingly mounted on said one end of said pressurized container, a dispensing tube, said dispensing tube depending from said transverse wall inwardly of said casing for engagement with said dispensing valve, a baffle in the form of a flat disc having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the casing and mounted in said casing between said one end thereof and said transverse wall, said baffle having radial slots formed on the under surface thereof for directing a pressurized liquid radially outward from said dispensing tube, said casing having at said one end a rim defining an area for limiting the outward radial travel of said liquid when said valve is opened by forcing said dispensing tube against said dispensing valve, which rim carries a flange which turns inwardly to retain said baffle between said flange and transverse wall, and said baffle being radially grooved on both faces.
 2. Spout as claimed in claim 1 in which the rim of the casing which holds said disc has a substantially greater thickness than that of the cylindrical wall of the container.
 3. A dispensing spout for use in combination with a pressurized container of the aerosol type which container is provided with a dispensing valve in one end thereof, said spout comprising an integrally formed casing and a transverse wall at one end of said casing with the other end of said casing adapted to be slidingly mounted on said one end of said pressurized container, a dispensing tube, said dispensing tube depending from said transverse wall inwardly of said casing for engagement with said dispensing valve, a rigid baffle mounted above said transverse wall, said baffle having radial slots formed on the under surface and extending to the periphery thereof to define with said transverse wall a plurality of permanently open ducts for directing a pressurized liquId radially outwardly from said dispensing tube, said casing defining an area for limiting the outward radial travel of said liquid beyond said ducts when said valve is opened by forcing said dispensing tube onto said dispensing valve.
 4. Spout as claimed in claim 3 in which the casing consists of a cylindrical wall which fits slideably over a crimped joint connecting the cap carrying the valve to the lateral wall of the pressurized container.
 5. Spout as claimed in claim 3 in which the dispensing tube is cylindrical and comprises at its lower end a seat permitting it to engage the top of the outlet tube of the dispensing valve of the pressurized container, said tube being positioned substantially axially of the lateral casing.
 6. In combination a spout as claimed in claim 3 and a valved dispenser of the aerosol type, with said spout mounted on the valve of said dispenser.
 7. Spout as claimed in claim 3 in which the baffle has a diameter slightly greater than that of the passage in the dispensing tube and comprises a mounting pin retained by the wall of the dispensing tube, the transverse wall having the shape of a bowl and extending from one end of the dispensing tube to the lateral edge of the casing, which edge constitutes the connection between said transverse wall and the cylindrical casing wall.
 8. Spout as claimed in claim 7 in which the baffle is formed by a pin-shaped member, the end of which is divided into at least two separable parts, the lower surface of the head of the pin-shaped member being provided with radial ridges spacing the transverse wall from the remainder of the head of the nail. 